The Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict at the ExCel Centre was amazing!
Our pic shows Angelina Jolie and William Hague who organised the event. Stella McCartney also supported. All our members spent time speaking with the William Hague who said, ‘I know all about Soroptimists, they are always campaigning!’
The event continued for a week, with diplomats across the world. The hope is that following the discussions, a world agreement will be reached about not tolerating sexual violence in conflict and bringing any perpetrators to justice.
One of the many good events was a ‘mock trial’ of UN Resolution 1325, with Cherie Booth as judge and women witnesses from war-torn areas around the world presenting evidence about whether the resolution has yet made an impact. One woman, who was from Sierra Leone complimented Soroptimists for their work there on Project Sierra, which supported women after the war.
It was a great priviledge for Soroptimists to be involved along with the many other organisations who support women across the world. Margaret Sandercock from the Southend Soroptimist club was supporting the international Soroptimist team yesterday.
Soroptimists were able to flag up their work, including the Hillcrest Project, a project supported by members around East Anglia, to train AIDS nurses in a South African township.
Margaret said, ‘The event gave us all a real buzz!’